CHAPTER 590

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 29-185, 29-186, as amended, 29-188 and
29-150 of the Code of Virginia, allowing the Commission of Game and
Inland Fisheries to fix hunting seasons, with certain exceptions, spect-
fying certain game birds, game animals and fish which may be taken
pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission and provid-
ing for the taking of such game and fish under certain conditions.

[H 626]
Approved March 31, 1960

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 29-135, 29-186, as amended, 29-138 and 29-150 of the Code
of Virginia, be amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 29-135. It shall be lawful to hunt wild birds and wild animals
named in the following sections of this article, within the daily and season
bag limits, if any, during the open seasons provided, including the first and
last days thereof, * as promulgated by Commission regulations; provided
that nothing in this section shall affect the operation of any local acts
heretofore or hereafter enacted.

29-136. The following nonmigratory game birds may be hunted
during the open seasons prescribed in § 29-185; provided that nothing in
this section shall affect the operation of any local acts heretofore or here-
after enacted:

Grouse. *

Pheasant, ringnecked only.—* The Commission * may issue a permit
to raise or purchase pheasants which shall entitle the permittee to release
pheasants raised or purchased by him on land owned or leased by him, and
such pheasants may be hunted under rules and regulations promulgated
by the Commission. *

Birds introduced by the Commission.

Quail._—* The Commission may open the season on pen-raised quail
on controlled shooting areas operated under Chapter 4 (§ 29-38 et seq.)
of this title under rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the
Commission. *

Turkey. *

Clapper Rail. *

§ 29-138. Black bear.—* Black bear may be killed by any person
when it is inflicting or attempting to inflict injury to the person or prop-
erty of anyone, or in a pursuit commenced within twenty-four hours after
the commission of such offense. Any person killing a bear under this pro-
vision shall forthwith report the same to the game warden of the county.
Deer.—Unlawful to molest while swimming in the water of any
stream, lake or pond, or to hunt with dogs in the counties west of the Blue
Ridge Mountains. *

Elk.—Unlawful to hunt with dogs. *

Fox.—* Continuous open season for hunting with dogs only. Foxes
may be killed at any time by the owner or tenant of any land when such
animals are doing damage to domestic stock or fowl.

Rabbits and squirrels—* It shall be unlawful to kill rabbits and
squirrels during the closed season thereon, except that a landowner, his
wife or child, resident members of hunt clubs who own the land in fee,
either jointly or through a holding corporation, and tenants residing upon
the premises, with the written permission of the landowner, may kill rab-
bits or squirrels for their own use during the closed season. Further, when
such animals are committing substantial damage to fruit trees, gardens,
crops, or other property, * the owner of the premises may kill or have the
same killed under permit obtained from the game warden of the county
authorizing same; provided that nothing in this section shall affect the
operation of any local acts heretofore or hereafter enacted.

§ 29-150. The open season during which it shall be lawful to take
any species of bass and trout from the inland waters of this State, but
only by angling with hook and line, attached to a rod or pole, either with
or without a reel, and with or without the aid of a hand landing net, *
including the first and last days thereof, shall be as * promulgated by
Commission regulations.

Bass, * including rock bass and redeye. *

Trout, any species.—* The owner, or lessee, of any private pond
stocked by himself, or by the Commission * not less than three years prior
thereto, may capture any fish therefrom for his own use at any time, pro-
vided that nothing in this section shall affect the operation of any local
acts heretofore or hereafter enacted.